A record number of people are currently waiting for diagnostic tests within the National Health Service in England [1].
This surge in waiting lists is critical because delays in essential scans and tests can endanger patient health by postponing the detection and treatment of serious conditions.
Recent data shows that 1.92 million patients are now waiting for diagnostic services such as CT, MRI, and ultrasound scans [1]. This figure represents a significant increase from the 1.8 million people reported to be on the waiting list at the end of January 2026 [2]. Over the course of a single year, the backlog has jumped by nearly 200,000 people [2].
The pressure on the system is further evidenced by the duration of these waits. Approximately one in five patients, or 20% of those on the list, have been waiting longer than six weeks for their diagnostic tests [1].
Health officials said the growing backlog is due to a combination of rising patient demand and persistent staffing pressures. These systemic hurdles have prevented the NHS from keeping pace with the volume of required screenings across hospitals and diagnostic centers in England [1], [2].
Despite the record highs, some health leaders said certain aspects of the ongoing effort to manage these lists are a "significant achievement" [3]. However, the overall trend indicates a system struggling to meet the basic diagnostic needs of the population.
“1.92 million patients are now waiting for diagnostic services”
The record-breaking diagnostic backlog suggests that the NHS is facing a structural capacity crisis that exceeds its current staffing and equipment levels. When one-fifth of patients miss the six-week target for diagnostics, the risk of late-stage diagnosis increases, which typically leads to more complex and expensive treatments, further straining the healthcare budget.
